Contrasting centuries from Joe New and Dan Freeman guided the Nottinghamshire Academy to a six-wicket victory when they travelled to Cuckney.
New opened the batting and steered the visitors chase despite the loss of three early wickets before Freeman’s blitz got the side over the line.
The Academy were on the front foot from the start, making an early breakthrough after Cuckney had won the toss and chose to bat first.
Reicko Parker-Cole was the bowler to take the wicket as Luke Thomas was caught at midwicket by Joe New for one.
Adam Burgess and James Hawley recovered well for the hosts, adding 116 for the second wickets as they set a platform for a big total.
However, there progress was slow and by the 30th over Burgess was run out by Tim Wyatt for 53 and the score had only reached 118-2.
Hawley and Will Butler kicked on, taking the hosts past 200 before the former was outdone by an Adam Tillcock quicker ball, bowled for 88.
Butler went to his fifty from just 54 balls but was another who couldn’t kick on, bowled by Dan Freeman for 61.
Quickfire cameos from Lewis Bramley (10) and Dan Wood (18) ensured the hosts set a formidable total of 256-6 from their 50 overs.
The Academy’s reply followed the same early pattern as Cuckney’s, the loss of an early wicket stemming any early quick progress.
New and Dal began the response before the latter was bowled without scoring in the second over, the Academy 1-1.
Tom Keast joined New and the pair took the score to 47 by the 17th over before the latter was dismissed for 25 and when Tillcock came and went for 14, the match-changing partnership came together.
New and Freeman added 171 for fourth wicket, the opener bringing up his century in the 38th over before eventually falling for 114, caught behind off the bowling of Bostock.
Freeman finished the game off in style though, hitting the second ball of the 47th over to secure the six-wicket win and give him his unbeaten century off just 72 balls.
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